bechert



Nov. 22," 1932.

F. J. B ECHERT SPRING END CONNECTION Original Filed June 15, 1928 QfiINVENTOR ATTORNEY 5 Reissued Nov. 22, 1932 J. IBECHERT,-OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T: OFFICE TO THE FAJFNIR BEARING COMPANY, OF BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT SPRING END CONNECTION Original No. 1,757,700, dated May 6, 1930, Serial No. I filed April13, 1932.

My inventionrelates to a spring end c0nnection and particularly, though not exclusively, to a spring shackle constructionfor motor vehicles. V r Itis an object of the invention to provide a springend connection having antifriction bearing means for sustaining the normal loads between the frame and spring, together with means for sustaining sideor what may be termed end thrust loads between those members. I c

It is-ja. more specifieobject to provide a spring-end connection employing what may be termed radial load bearing antifriction bearing means for connecting a spring and frame together ,With antifriction bearing means for sustaining side or end thrust loads between the frame and spring.

Briefly stated, in a preferred form shackle, I provide bearing means to be securedto a spring and a frame. Connecting shackle links serve to connect the-spring and frame, andantifriction bearing members are interposed between the shackle links and the bear: ing members car ried by the spring. and frame. To take up side, or what may be termed end thrust-loads of the spring and frame, I'employ means such as a ball or rollervbearing device so that when assembled one set of antifriction-bearing means may take thenormal or'what maybe termed radial thrust loads between the-spring and frame, and. another means which may be an antifriction hearing may take up-the side or what may be termed axial or end thrusts between the spring and frame. d

In the drawing which shows, for illustrative; purposes only, preferred forms of the invention spring and frame connected by shackles partly broken away for the-purpose of illustrating interior construction;

Fig. .2 is a fragmentary, sectional View of a slightly modified form.

I-have, illustrated the invention in connection with shackle links connectingthe ends of an automobile frame and spring. It is to be observed that the invention is not confined to; connecting the end" of-the frame and ing connection, will'sufiice.

285,579, filed .Tune 15, 1928. Application forreissue- Serial No. 605,673. r

spring, but may be employed on what is usuallythe inner end of a spring and frame. The invention is also applicable to the so-called hinge end connection between a spring and frame as well as to the shackle connection, as illustrated. I

In said drawing, 5 indicates a part of a frame while 6 indicates a part of a. spring to be connected to said frame. Bearing means such as a pin 7 may be secured to the frame 6 by any suitable means or may be a drive fit in an eye of the frame. A similar bearing means such as the pin 8 may be similarly secured in an eye in the spring 6. Shackle links 99 may be employed for securing the spring and frame together. In the formshown these shackle links are provided with depressions or. cups 10' 10 at the ends into which the ends of the pins 7'-8 may project. The shackle links 99 may be defi: nitely spaced apart-by any suitable means such as the thim'ble 1-1 and secured in such definitely spaced relation as by means of a through-bolt 12.. I

The normal or whatI may term radial loads between-the frame andspring are taken by meansof anti-friction bearing members such as the balls 13-43. In the form shown these balls are part of radial uni't'handling bearings, the inner rings of which areon the ends of the pins 7 and 8. I do not wish to be confined to a unit handling bearing, since the'invention is of broader application, and any means of providing an antifriction bear- The antifriction bearing members such as 13 maybe arranged to sustain only the normal or what I term theradial loads'between the spring and frame.

Unit handling bearings as rigidly secured to Fig. 1 1s a fragmentary end vlew of a the pins such -as78'and the shackle plates would sustain both radial and thrust loads,

but it isexceedingly diificult to' secure the bearing rings so as to properly take the end thrusts. v r

' Forthe purpose of takingthe side thrusts or what I may term end thrust loads, I pref-' erably employ one or more antifriction'bearings such asballs 14 which may engage any part'fixed to the frame 5 and spring 6, for example, the pins 7 and 8.

These thrust held in suitable cages as 15.

bearing anti-friction bearing members may be The ends of the cups may be closed by dust rings 16 as is usual.

' Inthe modificationshown in Fig. 2, I employ a single thrust member such as a ball 14' which may engage the pin 7 centrally so as to take the end thrusts or side thrusts be.-v

tween the spring and frame.

When my improved spring end connection v such as the shackle construction illustrated is in use, the anti-friction bearing members I such as balls 13 sustain the spring and frame and take the normal or what I term radial loads, andany side or what I term axial or end thrusts are taken by antifriction bearing members such as the balls 14'14 or the single thrust member such as the ball 14.

- While the invention has been described in considerable detail and a single application, that is, to a shackle construction has been illustrated, I do not wish to be strictly limited to the constructions herein disclosed,since the invention may be otherwise embodied, and

changes may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Icla-imz' 1. Ina spring end connection, a bearing member to be secured to a spring, a second bearing member to be secured to a frame, a pair of shackle links having bearing raceways, antifriction bearing members interposed. between said shackle links and said bearing members on said spring and frame,

' and means between said shackle links and said bearing members on the spring and frame for resisting end thrust of said bearing means on said spring and frame. I, j v v 2. In a spring end connection,'bearing pins to be secured to a spring and a frame; respectively, shackle links for connecting said spring and frame, antifriction bearing mem bers interposed between said bearing pins and said shackle links, and means engagingsaid bearing pins endwise for resisting thrust of said bearing pins.

3. In a spring end 'connection,;bea-ring pins to be secured to a spring and frame, shackle links to secure said'spring and frame to gether, antifriction bearing members inter posed between said bearing pins and shackle plates, and antifriction-bearingmeans engaging said pins eiidwise for resisting thrust of said pins.

4. In a spring endconnection, bearing means to be secured'to a spring and a frame,

shackle links tO'llOlCl said spring and frame together, antifriction bearing members interposed between said means and said shackle links for sustaining saidmeans radially, and

"an antifriction bearingmember for sustaining said means axially. I

5. In a spring end connection, shackle links for securing a spring and frame together, antifriction bearing means for transmitting radial loads between said shackle links and said spring and frame, and antifriction means for sustaining end thrust loads between said shackle links and said spring and frame. a I I 6. In a spring end connection, means ll'b eluding antifriction bearing members for 7 connecting a spring and frame together, and

sustaining normal loads between said spring and frame, and antifriction bearing means for sustaining'en'd thrust loads between said spring and frame.-

7 In a spring end connection, shackle means for connecting a spring andframe, and

antifriction bearing members for sustaining end thrust loads only between and frame. I

8. In a spring end connection, a spring, a

frame, means on one of said members and extended over the other'of said members,

antifriction bearings for sustaining normal loads between said means and the said other of said members, and antifriction bearing means for sustaining end thrust loads betweensaidspring and frame. I r

- 9. In a spring connection, a pair ofside means, bearing means between said side means, antifriction bearing members interposed between said side means and said bearing means for sustaining radial loads and supporting said side means and bearing means relatively to each other, said side means and said bearing means havin thrust surfaces to sustain end thrust loads etween said means independently of said antifriction bearing members.

10. Ina combination asdefined in claim 9,

.means for urgingfsaidside 'means toward each other together with means'for limiting the extent to which said side means may approach each other.- 1 r 11. In a spring connection, a pair of side means, bearing means between said side means, said side means having continuous and serving when releasedto permit axial separation of said side means and said antifriction bearing members from said bearing a means. I

l 12. In a spring shackle construction, a pair of shackle links each having a pair of spaced apart bearing member raceways,bearing pin means interposed between opposed racewa s, anti-frictionbearing members interposed said spring I tween said pin means and said raceways to sustain radial loads, said links and said pin means having thrust surfaces to sustain axial thrust loads independently of said anti-frie tion bearing members, and through bolt 1 means for detachably securing said links to each other.

13. In the combination defined in claim 12, and means for spacing said links independently of said pin means.

14. In a spring shackle construction, a pair of shackle links each having spaced apart raceWays, bearing pin means to be secured to a spring and interposed between said links, bearing pin means to be secured to a frame and interposed between said links, said bearing pin means and said shackles having thrust surfaces to sustain end thrust loads between said bearing pin means and said links, antifriction bearlng members interposed between said raceways and said pin means to sustain radial loads between said pin means and said links, and means for securing said links to each other.

FRED J. BECHERT. 

